Books › Strength in What Remains
Strength in What Remains
a journey of remembrance and forgetting
469 pages
An inspiring, deeply human portrait of survival, memory, and the transformative power of second chances.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like taking a profound, empathetic journey alongside a survivor navigating the extremes of human experience. The narrative unfolds at a steady, reflective pace, balancing the harrowing weight of genocide and displacement with the quiet, luminous moments of strangers offering unexpected help. The prose is masterful and earnest, grounding the staggering realities of trauma, poverty, and homelessness in a deeply personal story of remembrance. The mood shifts gradually from dread-soaked isolation to a resilient, hard-won hope as the focus turns toward medical healing and forgiveness. It is a poignant, unforgettable experience tailored for readers who gravitate toward narrative non-fiction that explores the enduring strength of the human spirit and the profound impact of ordinary heroism.
- Mood
- harrowing
- hopeful
- resilient
- poignant
- Tone
- earnest
- empathetic
- inspiring
- reflective
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- survival and resilience · the immigrant experience · trauma and memory · the kindness of strangers · healing and forgiveness
- The writing
- Wonderfully written and deeply empathetic, blending masterful non-fiction reporting with intimate, character-driven storytelling.
- The arc
- Moves from harrowing survival and profound isolation to a hard-won sense of hope, healing, and purpose.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate deeply reported biographies about resilience, the refugee experience, and the quiet heroism of everyday people.
Content notes
- genocide
- civil war
- homicide
- trauma and nightmares
- homelessness
About the book
Tracy Kidder, " In this new book, Kidder gives us the superb story of a hero for our time. Strength in What Remains is a wonderfully written, inspiring account of one man's remarkable American journey and of the ordinary people who helped him--a brilliant testament to the power of will and of second chances.Deo arrives in America from Burundi in search of a new life. Having survived a civil war and genocide, plagued by horrific dreams, he lands at JFK airport with two hundred dollars, no English, and no contacts. He ekes out a precarious existence delivering groceries, living in Central Park, and learning English by reading dictionaries in bookstores. Then Deo begins to meet the strangers who will change his life, pointing him eventually in the direction of Columbia University, medical school, and a life devoted to healing. Kidder breaks new ground in telling this unforgettable story as he travels with Deo back over a turbulent life in search of meaning and forgiveness. An extraordinary writer, Tracy Kidder once again shows us what it means to be fully human by telling a story about the heroism inherent in ordinary people, a story about a life based on hope.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
Books like Strength in What Remains
See why they match
Mountains Beyond MountainsTracy KidderAn awe-inspiring, deeply challenging portrait of radical empathy in action that will make you question your own moral compass.
A Thousand HillsStephen KinzerA gripping, high-stakes portrait of exile, rebellion, and the fierce ambition required to rebuild a shattered nation.
Left to TellImmaculée IlibagizaA harrowing but ultimately luminous testament to the power of faith and radical forgiveness in the face of unimaginable evil.
The midwifeJennifer WorthA gritty, deeply compassionate window into the raw realities of birth, poverty, and female resilience in post-war London.
The Beautiful StruggleTa-Nehisi CoatesA tender, mythic exploration of Black boyhood, anchored by the gravity of a father's fierce, protective love.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall DownAnne FadimanA devastating, deeply empathetic exploration of a tragic collision between Western medicine and indigenous spirituality.